Marriage not consummated yet, says groom of child bride

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 1 Jul 2018 1:26PM · 4 Comments

The 41-year-old groom says he married the young girl, a Thai national, in Thailand to keep it a secret from his first two wives as he did not want them to 'misunderstand'. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 1, 2018.

THE 41-year-old man, who recently took an 11-year-old girl as his third wife, said he was merely trying to provide for her and her family, adding that their marriage was officiated on paper but had yet to be consummated.

“I had undergone ‘nikah gantung’ with my third wife. She is still under the care of her parents and I’ll take her when she comes of age,” he told Astro Awani.

‘Nikah gantung’ is a term to describe a valid type of Muslim marriage, an official engagement until an agreed-upon time. While the couple can be seen in public and recognised as husband and wife, they cannot engage in sexual activity.

The man said he married the young girl, a Thai national, in Thailand to keep it a secret from his first two wives as he did not want them to “misunderstand”.

“I’ve known my third wife for a long time and I kept my marriage a secret to avoid a misunderstanding in my two other wives,” he said.

“The mother to my third wife is a worker at the shop of my first wife. Her daughter was friends with my daughter and studied under me. I taught her, too,” the man told Astro Awani.

“I wanted to take care of her, as she is poor, to help and provide for her family, so I made the decision.

“The intention to make her my wife comes from the heart. I made this decision, so that each of us – her family and I – can take care of her.”

Both the 11-year-old girl, identified as Ayu, and her parents claim the marriage is consensual.

However, children’s rights activists have demanded that the government step in to investigate the marriage, and to review existing marriage laws to better protect children.

The Child Rights CSO Group (CSCG) called the marriage “totally unacceptable”, as it was prejudicial to the rights of the child.

“Child marriage is totally unacceptable anywhere in the world.  No exceptions. It is not in the best interests of a child whose rights to health, education, and protection are likely to be jeopardised, as the child’s focus shifts from completing school to domestic duties and parenthood,” the group said in a statement yesterday.

“We ask that the government take immediate action to ban child marriage by setting the legal minimum age for marriage at 18 and to fulfill what was promised in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto on this issue,” it said.

“CSCG is ready and willing to work with the government to address and improve the issue of child rights and protection in Malaysia. Together we can do much more for our children, the future generation, and leaders of our nation.” – July 1, 2018.

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Comments

  • You can help her n the family without marrying her. Don't lie. Why must you marry her? You already got wives n children. Is it to satisfy your lust? Don't use lust as a pretense that you want to help her. Say it as it is: you want to satisfy your lust

    Posted 7 years ago by Peace Maker · Reply

  • He has the desire of a paedophile. His guise of charitable actions and falling on the grace of his religion and precedence set, he is thinking he does no wrong. Blame the system and teaching. He can claim to be judged by Shariah application and throw out the civil prosecutions. Did you see any of our self claimed Grand Muftis voicing out against that. Till today there has yet to be officially seen a fatwa that goes against child marriage . What does that tell you.?????. If question too much we are racist and seditious in nature.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • This paedophile, under the guise of kindness, should be incarcerated and castrated. Period. He has done nothing but shaming Islam.

    Posted 7 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • I am sure his first two wives "understand perfectly" this third wife is only a "nikah gantung’ so his intentions are pure as he just wanted to help her family. If so, why did he keep this relationship a SECRET? He could have helped her family by simply giving them a big donation with no strings attached just like Ah Jib's Arab friend.

    Posted 7 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply